Chapter 55: Many Hearts Broken Tonight
Recently, Xie Sichen has become quite eloquent.
Chi Wang felt his face heat up; boasting about oneself and being acknowledged as likable by someone else were two different things.
Seeing Chi Wang’s downcast, beautiful eyes, Xie softly asked him, “Do you want to go out and have some fun?”
Chi Wang lifted his face but didn’t look at Xie directly. His gaze fell on the sparkling tie clip on Xie’s necktie. “Where do you want to go?”
Xie said, “The zoo, the arcade, or maybe an amusement park.”
Chi Wang’s eyes flickered thoughtfully. “Now that it’s winter break, the amusement parks and zoos should be offering part-time jobs.”
Xie: “…”
Xie naturally followed up, “Have you done part-time jobs there before?”
Chi Wang nodded. “I’ve worked as a guide and a safety officer. The pay isn’t great, but it’s a new experience.”
Xie said, “So, do you want to go?”
Chi Wang thought for a moment and said, “If you want to go, I’ll accompany you.”
Xie: “…”
Feeling a bit helpless, Xie said softly, “You’re only 19; you probably haven’t had a proper chance to have fun. Don’t think about part-time jobs—just enjoy yourself as a visitor.”
Chi Wang smiled and asked, “Are you treating me?”
Xie nodded, gazing at his smiling face. The corners of his mouth curved slightly, showing a faint smile. “Of course.”
Chi Wang said, “Then let’s go to the arcade. I’m really good at claw machines.”
As he spoke, he couldn’t help but feel eager. His beautiful face carried the unique vitality of his age. “There’s an arcade opposite our school with lots of claw machines. One yuan can get you four tokens; it takes two to four tokens to play once. With just 40 yuan, I can fill a whole bag with prizes, then set up a stall to sell them. Small ones go for 15 yuan, big ones for 25, so I can make three to four hundred yuan.”
Although Chi Wang was doing small-scale business, at the time, that amount of money wasn’t insignificant for him. His weekly living expenses were about 200 yuan, including three meals a day and extra nutrition like eggs and milk. Earning three to four hundred yuan was enough for his half-month nutrition expenses.
Chi Wang didn’t realize that he was now willing to share such things with Xie.
He had never proactively told others about these things because he felt it might seem like he was showing off his abilities. Chi Wang considered himself a low-key person who could stand out when necessary but preferred to stay in the background most of the time.
Chi Wang didn’t notice, but Xie did. He didn’t say anything but listened attentively.
Chi Wang continued, “But you can only do that once or twice. There are many staff members watching in the arcade. If they see you winning so many prizes and you haven’t left yet, they’ll come over to adjust the machines, reset the settings, and make it harder. They really can’t take a loss.”
Xie: “…They really can’t.”
Chi Wang said with some pride, “I’m also good at ring toss games, but I only play occasionally.”
Xie played along and asked, “Why only occasionally?”
Chi Wang said, “Ring toss is run by small vendors; I don’t want to cause them trouble.”
Xie slightly lowered his head to look at Chi Wang, taking in every expression on his face. He wanted to pat Chi Wang’s head, but Chi Wang probably wouldn’t like that. So he just glanced at his fluffy hair and then looked away. “Shall we head out now?”
Chi Wang said, “OK!”
Wait, Chi Wang asked, “Does that mean we need to call the driver again?”
Xie understood what he meant and said, “He didn’t leave.”
Chi Wang walked outside and saw that the car was indeed still parked at the gate.
He was momentarily stunned, realizing that Xie had planned to go out with him from the start—it wasn’t a spontaneous idea.
Xie walked to the car door and opened it for Chi Wang. After Chi Wang got in, he walked around to the other side and got in himself.
The afternoon wasn’t particularly cold; the sun was warm and pleasant. Chi Wang felt a warmth in his heart, a sense of inexplicable comfort.
He might have been a bit excited. He asked Xie, “Have you been to an arcade before?”
Xie replied, “No.”
Chi Wang didn’t notice that he was talking more than usual, chatting away like a chatterbox. “Then I’ll teach you. Many arcade machines are specially calibrated; it’s just for fun.”
Afraid that Xie might overthink, he added, “But I didn’t play much. It’s easy to get addicted, which isn’t good.”
Xie said, “You have great self-control; that’s impressive.”
Chi Wang laughed and couldn’t help giving Xie a thumbs-up. “You’re really good at talking now.”
Xie: “Not really.”
Chi Wang continued chatting, “Back then, my dream was to open a small shop and buy a computer so I’d have food and games. But when I went to the county for middle school, my dream changed. I wanted to get into a good university and find a good job—like a history or chemistry teacher. They only have a few classes a week, it’s quite leisurely, and the salary isn’t low. As for now…” He didn’t continue but smiled. A shallow dimple appeared at the corner of his mouth, faint and subtle.
As one’s horizons broaden, thoughts naturally change.
Chi Wang wasn’t afraid that Xie would laugh at him, so he shared his thoughts openly.
Xie cooperated and asked, “What’s your dream now?”
Chi Wang said, “I already told you.”
He had mentioned it before, but compared to being a small shop owner or a middle school teacher, it was more ambiguous.
Chi Wang said somewhat dramatically, “My dream now requires an audience.”
Xie smiled slightly and said in a low voice, “Then I’d like to be your first audience member.”
As he said this, Xie’s eyes were calm and focused on Chi Wang.
Chi Wang, who was used to looking at people while talking: “…”
He subconsciously leaned back a bit. “Then you’re late.”
Xie: “?”
*
Xiao Chengfeng had been troubled lately.
Because his relationship with Xiao Fu wasn’t as good as before.
Just because he had said a few words in front of Chi Wang, Xiao Fu had become much colder toward him.
Xiao Chengfeng didn’t understand and was even confused. He had helped Xiao Fu investigate Chi Wang’s background, so how did it turn out that not long after, Xiao Fu claimed Chi Wang was his biological brother?
After being scolded by Xiao Fu, Xiao Chengfeng tried to find him again, but Xiao Fu wouldn’t see him. When he went to the company, the receptionist had already been instructed not to let him up.
Xiao Chengfeng thought it wouldn’t last long. After all, he often paid for Xiao Fu’s expenses, even covering most of the bills when they went to bars.
But reality proved that Xiao Fu had other financial backers; he wasn’t indispensable.
Xiao Chengfeng understood Xiao Fu’s personality. Although he was somewhat sentimental, it was only to a certain extent. They looked quite similar, inheriting their fathers’ features, but Xiao Fu actually hated his own father, so it was hard for him to get close to Xiao Chengfeng. If Xiao Chengfeng hadn’t clung to him, Xiao Fu probably wouldn’t have paid him any attention.
Now that he was losing his role as a financial backer, Xiao Chengfeng didn’t know what else he could offer.
He could only try to make amends as soon as possible.
Xiao Chengfeng planned to give Xiao Fu a watch. Although he had given him one six months ago, Xiao Fu liked watches, so giving him another wouldn’t hurt.
He invited a female companion to accompany him to a luxury store to choose a watch.
While waiting at a red light on the road, Xiao Chengfeng rolled down the window to tap off his cigarette ash. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a familiar figure.
He jolted and turned to look—it was Xie Sichen.
Next to Xie was a young man he also recognized—Chi Wang, the one who had taught him a harsh lesson.
They were walking side by side across the street. Xie even reached out to hold Chi Wang’s shoulder to prevent him from being bumped—a protective gesture.
Before Xiao Chengfeng could figure out why Chi Wang was with Xie, he instinctively picked up his phone and snapped a photo.
The female companion next to him asked, “What’s wrong?”
Xiao Chengfeng impatiently said, “Shut up, don’t bother me.”
The female companion immediately fell silent. When the light turned green, Xiao Chengfeng kept his eyes fixed on their figures as they crossed to the other side. He turned the steering wheel, slowed down, and followed them.
Chi Wang and Xie didn’t notice they were being followed.
Parking was hard to find nearby, so they chose to get out of the car and walk a short distance to the arcade.
Chi Wang was actually a few months along now—about four months pregnant. His belly was quite pronounced, so he had to wear slightly longer clothes. Otherwise, the bulge would lift his shirt, making it loose and allowing cold air to get in.
But as Xie had said, his belly was smaller than a typical four-month pregnancy. At least in winter clothes, it wasn’t noticeable.
But if it were summer, it would be hard to hide.
Because his belly was much bigger than before, his spine felt some strain, causing discomfort. Walking too much made his back ache.
Chi Wang never thought he’d have such a fragile day.
After all, he used to jog every morning.
But given the special circumstances now, he didn’t mind.
When they reached the arcade entrance, Chi Wang and Xie went in together.
They didn’t notice a little tail following behind.
Sitting in his car, Xiao Chengfeng looked at the photo he had taken and wondered whether to send it to Xiao Fu.
After hesitating for a moment, he decided to do it. After all, Xie and Xiao Fu didn’t get along, and Xiao Fu had a right to know about Chi Wang’s involvement with Xie.
So he sent the photo to Xiao Fu: “Brother, is that our cousin?”
Xiao Fu quickly replied, “?”
Xiao Chengfeng boldly said, “Why is he with Xie Sichen?”
Xiao Fu responded, “Mind your own business.”
Xiao Chengfeng: “…”
Xiao Chengfeng: ???
What? Why?
Xiao Chengfeng quietly felt his heart break.
*
Chi Wang watched as Xie scanned the QR code to exchange for game tokens. A basket under the machine caught the tokens as they poured out with a clatter, filling it up—it looked like they could play forever.
But Chi Wang knew these tokens would be spent quickly.
Just as he was about to take the basket from Xie’s hand, his phone rang in his pocket. He paused and took it out—it was a call from Xiao Fu.
Chi Wang: “…”
He told Xie he’d be right back and found a quiet place to answer the call. “Hello, brother, what’s up?”
Xiao Fu’s laughter came through. “Baby, where are you now?”
Chi Wang: “Uh, I’m outside.”
Xiao Fu: “Where exactly?”
His tone was light, sounding a bit cheerful, but Chi Wang felt that he might actually be upset. So he said, “I’m at the arcade.”
Hearing his honesty, Xiao Fu’s anger subsided a bit. “Are you alone?”
Chi Wang was an honest person who couldn’t lie. After a brief pause, he answered truthfully, “I’m with my senior.”
On one hand, Xiao Fu was pleased that Chi Wang wasn’t hiding anything from him; on the other hand, he was annoyed that Xie was close to Chi Wang. His tone became strained, “Xie Sichen?”
Chi Wang: “…Yes.”
Xiao Fu snorted, “You’d rather go to the arcade with him than spend winter break with me?”
Chi Wang: “…”
Brother, please stop laughing; it’s kind of creepy.
